How could Zhou Cheng not remember?
Just thinking about something happening to him and Xiaolan marrying someone else made Zhou Cheng determined to cherish his life dearly.
“Don’t worry.”
A thousand words condensed into these three simple ones, plain yet somehow carrying more weight than “I love you.”
With Zhou Cheng making his promise, Xia Xiaolan started counting the days on her fingers.
With Zhou Cheng busy with his mission, September didn’t have many days left, so marriage was impossible then.
October… October wasn’t impossible. Her idea of marriage was simply getting the certificate, not interrupting her battles in Hong Kong’s stock market crash. But that was just her thinking – there was nothing shameful about their relationship, and while she didn’t care about the ceremony, both sets of parents wouldn’t let them marry without celebration.
So they would need a moderate ceremony.
They would hold their wedding witnessed by both families’ relatives and friends – all the necessary festivities without unnecessary outsiders.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t like “century weddings” like Tang Yuanyue and He Zhitong’s.
This wasn’t sour grapes – it wasn’t that she and Zhou Cheng couldn’t afford it, she genuinely disliked it. Marriage should have blessings from loved ones, but inviting crowds of guests to observe while the newlyweds had to entertain – wasn’t that exhausting?
Everything should be simple.
She was marrying the man she loved, not making a political alliance. Why turn her wedding into a social venue?
So, September was too soon, October was too busy, and November seemed most appropriate.
Zhou Cheng disappeared after mentioning closing the net.
Xia Xiaolan, now with a bride-to-be’s mindset, didn’t let it affect her work but was in excellent spirits, finding everyone agreeable, her complexion radiant like March peach blossoms.
When Xia Ziyu happened to meet her in Central, seeing Xia Xiaolan’s springtime demeanor made her teeth itch with hatred.
Xia Ziyu thought Xia Xiaolan was mocking her.
These days had been rather miserable for Xia Ziyu.
Hong Kong media had captured photos of Liu Keying’s pregnant belly.
That bastard Du Zhaohui took the opportunity to “suggest” to Du Chengrong:
“Hong Kong paparazzi are everywhere. Fourth Mother’s current residence can’t prevent secret photos. Being constantly tense isn’t good for the baby. Why not let Fourth Mother move back to the mansion? A pregnant woman can relax better in familiar surroundings.”
Du Chengrong did value the child in Liu Keying’s womb.
Though the Du family wasn’t short of children, and he’d never shown such concern for children before, hearing Du Zhaohui’s suggestion, he brought Liu Keying back to the Du mansion.
This was another thing inconsistent with Du Chengrong’s character.
With so many flowers outside, wouldn’t taking back an abandoned woman be like slapping his face?
Du Chengrong wouldn’t normally do something so contradictory.
Unless it was for profit… but Liu Keying completely depended on the old man for a living, what benefit could she bring him?
Du Zhaohui had intended to cause trouble, but when Du Chengrong did it, he became nervous.
Yu Shihua was both right and wrong.
Du Zhaohui couldn’t understand if the old man was paranoid or senile – or perhaps both?
Anyway, Du Zhaohui couldn’t figure it out.
Liu Keying had lost favor and left the Du mansion, only to return gloriously months later.
The Second and Third Mistresses hadn’t expected this. Liu Keying held both their hands:
“After living with both sisters for so many years, I’ve truly missed you these past days. Why don’t I host something for us all to enjoy?”
The Third Mistress had always been invisible, while the Second Mistress pulled her hand away and asked Liu Keying how she wanted to celebrate.
Liu Keying suggested holding a party and inviting all Du family members back to the mansion.
Hmph, so that meant even the Fifth Mistress would be invited?
Just as expected – Liu Keying would become arrogant once back in power.
The Second Mistress felt complicated – Liu Keying hadn’t changed after all these years!
Somehow managed to get pregnant, turning her fate around with the flesh in her belly, she should be focusing on the pregnancy, yet she wanted to invite the Fifth Mistress.
“Wonderful, sister wants celebration, leave everything to Second Sister.”
After all, she wasn’t the one who had caused the Fifth Mistress to lose her pregnancy.
If Liu Keying wasn’t afraid, the Second Mistress was happy to watch her bite at Xia Ziyu.
The party was indeed lively.
All available Du family members attended.
Not only was Xia Ziyu there, but also Du Zhaoqi who hadn’t appeared for a long time.
That fatty Liu Tianquan was nowhere to be seen.
Du Zhaohui sneered:
“Zhaoqi is quite busy these days.”
Du Zhaoqi ignored him completely.
Du Zhaohui leaned close to his ear, “You think Father letting you take over Liu Tianquan’s business means he values you? This kind of business – Father would never let me handle it. He’s afraid I’d dirty my hands. Good second brother, you’ll have to work hard in the future. Big brother can’t conveniently do the dirty work, it’ll all fall to you!”
Perhaps there was no one more despicable than Du Zhaohui in this world.
Even an enlightened monk would lose composure at Du Zhaohui’s words, let alone Du Zhaoqi who hadn’t transcended worldly concerns.
Du Zhaoqi had a gun in his pocket at that moment.
It was rather laughable – after being a good student for so many years, he ended up dealing with unsavory characters.
Hands that should have been signing documents were forced to hold guns. His arm had trembled the first time he fired.
Right then, Du Zhaoqi truly wanted to pull out his gun and shoot Du Zhaohui, the bullet entering his mouth, destroying that hateful face.
Who knows how much willpower Du Zhaoqi used to resist?
“Big brother jests. I eat family food and spend my father’s money, doing things for the family is only right.”
Du Zhaohui could swear that Loser Qi had wanted to kill him just then.
His heart fluttered a bit, and he secretly cursed Black-faced Zhou. After Du Zhaoqi left, he couldn’t help muttering:
“Is Black-faced Zhou doing this deliberately? If I provoke like this and get assassinated by Du Zhaoqi’s men one day, wouldn’t that leave no one to compete with Black-faced Zhou for his wife?”
He ignored all of Xia Xiaolan’s other suitors.
Du Zhaohui only acknowledged himself as slightly inferior to Zhou Cheng in looks; other suitors were worthless fish and shrimp in his eyes.
The Du family party was extremely lively. Though Du Chengrong had business matters, he still stayed for half an hour before leaving, giving Liu Keying a face.
Xia Ziyu sat as if on pins and needles, barely maintaining her dignity, her gaze fixed on Liu Keying’s pregnant belly, thoughts unknown.
Liu Keying didn’t care at all.
As soon as Du Chengrong left, Liu Keying dramatically claimed to feel dizzy:
“I’ll go upstairs to rest a while, please enjoy yourselves.”
She slowly climbed the stairs, reaching the upstairs terrace where she lit a cigarette.
Pregnant women shouldn’t smoke, but since leaving the Du mansion, her cigarette addiction has become uncontrollable.
On the terrace, not only was Liu Keying present, but Du Zhaoqi stood there too.
“Fourth Mother, how does it feel to return to the Du mansion? Fifth Mother’s foundation is too shallow. You’ve been by Father’s side for so many years – Father just temporarily craved something new, he’ll soon lose interest in Fifth Mother. In fact, how much of his doting on Fifth Mother was genuine? After this time, I think Fourth Mother sees now. As long as you don’t lose your composure, you’ll still be the most favored woman in the Du family’s inner court—”
Liu Keying blew out a smoke ring:
“Haha, most favored woman! Without that woman Vivi, who knows if there won’t be a Coco or some Lily one day? Du Zhaoqi, you don’t need to test my resolve anymore, I know what I want!”
Want no more conflicts?
No more fighting for a favor?
No more threats from any woman?
There was only one way – Du Chengrong’s death!
—When the person is dead, naturally there’s nothing left to fight over.